Box-fastener.



J. F. BEEHLER.

BOX FASTENER. 1111111111111111111111111 l.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

JAMES F. BEEHLER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

BOX-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

Application filed May 11, 1911. Serial No. 626,538.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES F. BEEHLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Box-Fasteners, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improved box fastener, the object of my invention being to provide a simple inexpensive device which is applied to one of the walls and the lid of a box for the purpose of holding the lid closed.

My improved box fastener is particularly intended for use on beer shipping boxes, egg cases, bottle shipping cases, and for all the boxes where a simple efiective latch or fastener for the lid is desired.

To the above purposes my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement ofparts hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through a portion of the lid and front wall of a box, and showing my improved fastener positioned thereon. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and showing the fastener in an elevation. Fig. 3 is a detail section similar to Fig. 1 and showing the latch plate positioned on top of the lid. Fig. 4; is a plan view of the latch plate. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a hori zontal section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings A designates the front wall of the box, B the lid thereof, and in which lid is formed an opening C, the same being located adjacent the front edge of said lid.

The latch plate 1 is applied to the lid B immediately over the opening C and either on top or against the under side of the lid as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. This plate is preferably cast in a single piece, and is provided with perforated ears 2, adapted to receive fastening devices whereby the latch plate is rigidly fixed to the lid.

Formed through the latch plate is an opening 3 and formed integral with the top.

of the plate in front of this opening is a pair of upstanding lugs 4, which bear against the edge of the opening C when the latch plate is applied to the under side of the lid B as shown in Fig. 1.

Formed integral with the front portion of the plate 1 and extending into the opening 3 is a lug 5 the under side of which is provided with a beveled or inclined face 6.

7 designates a base plate, which is rigidly fixed in any suitable manner to the inner face of the front wall A of the box at a point a short distance below the point occupied by the opening C in the box lid when the same is closed, and formed integral with the front side of this plate 7 adjacent the upper end thereof is a loop 8.

Formed integral with the face of the plate 7 adjacent the lower end is a lug 9, and formed integral with the face of said plate 7 immediately above the lug 9 is a pair of ears 10.

11 designates a resilient catch member formed of a single piece of wire bent double. The legs or lower ends of this catch member occupy a position beneath the loop 8 and extend from thence downward beneath the ears 10, and bear against the lug 9. The ears 10 are bent downward at the lower port-ions of the legs of the catch member as shown in Fig. 6 to rigidly fix the resilient member to the plate 7. The upper end 12 of the catch member is considerably wider than the lower end thereof, and is of such size as to fit snugly over the lug 5 when the lid is closed. The catch member 11 occupies a vertical position when the lid is open, and when said lid is closed the beveled or inclined face 6 strikes against the upper end 12 of the latch member, and owing to the resiliency of said member the upper portion thereof will bend away from the inner face of the front wall A of the box until the lid is closed, and the upper end of said latch member will now spring toward the front wall A over the lug 5 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, thereby effectually holding the lid closed.

When it is desired to release the latch to raise the lid the upper end of the latch member 11 is engaged and sprung forward off from the lug 5 as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and the lid is now free to be raised.

A box fastener of my improved construction is comparatively simple, can be easily applied for use automatically engaging the latch plate when the lid is closed, occupies comparatively little space, and comprises but 3 parts, which can be easily and quickly applied for use. I

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved box fastener may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. In a box fastener a base plate adapted to be applied to the wall of the box, a resilient loop having its lower portion applied to the face of said plate, a lug on the base plate against which the lower ends of the loop engageand a pair of ears integral with the base plate above the lug for clamping the lower portion of said resilient loop.

2. In a box fastener of the class described a base plate adapted to be applied to thd wall of the box, a resilient catch formed of a single piece of wire bent double the integral with the base plate above the lug for clamping the lower portions of the legs of the resilient catch, and a loop on the upper portion of the base plate through which the legs of the catch engage.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 19th day of April, 1911.

JAMES F. BEEHLER.

lVitnesses M. P. SMITH, M. A. DAVIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

